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===Overview===
==Overview==
The Jotun are [[orc|orcs]] who dominate the lands to the west and north-west of the Empire. Historically they have been especial threats to [[Wintermark]], the [[The Marches|Marches]] and the [[Navarr]] territory of [[Liathaven]]. They are barbaric by Imperial standards, but they are neither savage nor primitive. They enshrine the warrior-ideal, and seem to fight the Empire as much for the joy of battle as for any desire for territory or hate for the humans.  
The Jotun are [[orc|orcs]] who dominate the lands to the west and north-west of the Empire. Historically they have been especial threats to [[Wintermark]], the [[The Marches|Marches]] and the [[Navarr]] territory of [[Liathaven]]. They are barbaric by Imperial standards, but they are neither savage nor primitive. They enshrine the warrior-ideal, and seem to fight the Empire as much for the joy of battle as for any desire for territory or hate for the humans.  
{{CaptionedImage|file=Jotunarmy.jpg|title=Jotun banners often show the skulls of powerful creatures.|align=left|width=350}}
{{CaptionedImage|file=Jotunarmy.jpg|title=Jotun banners often show the skulls of powerful creatures.|align=left|width=350}}
===The Tribe===
==The Nation==
Much of what the Empire knows about the Jotun has come from interviews with slaves, both orc slaves and human slaves taken by the Jotun who later escaped. They are a warlike tribe that values strength-in-arms and fighting-spirit as their highest virtues; to become more like their ancestors, they seek out challenges against which to test their might and their nerve. While they may view climbing a mountain, wrestling a [[legendary beasts#Mandowla|mandowla]] or swimming across the Gullet to be renown-worthy acts, they seek true glory and renown in battle.
Much of what the Empire knows about the Jotun has come from interviews with slaves, both orc slaves and human slaves taken by the Jotun who later escaped. They are a warlike people that values strength-in-arms and fighting-spirit as their highest virtues; to become more like their ancestors, they seek out challenges against which to test their might and their nerve. While they may view climbing a mountain, wrestling a [[legendary beasts#Mandowla|mandowla]] or swimming across the Gullet to be renown-worthy acts, they seek true glory and renown in war.


Jotun ancestors drive them to achieve victory in combat, to fall surrounded by their foes, and to face every threat or obstacle head-on. Jotun regularly fight for sport and pleasure among themselves, as well as to establish precedence. As with all orcs  when they have slain ten times their number. It is the bravest or strongest warriors who are able to cross the Howling Abyss to help their ancestors.
The Jotun are literally defined by war, only those who are prepared to take up arms to fight against the enemies of the nation are considered to be people, everyone else is either an enemy or a thrall. War is seen as the greatest endeavour, the only proving ground where the nation can truly demonstrate their worth, for the Jotun believe that only those who die in battle are able to cross the Howling Abyss. In battle they are joined with their ancestors, whose words carry them to greatness and who wait ready to take the farthest shore if they fall. A battle is about the nation against their enemies - it is never about the individual. Small groups of warriors may pick fights with individuals, but they regard that as a fight - not a battle. A battle is the moment when the Jotun come together as a people to overcome their enemies. Victory is predicated not on individual heroics but rather on the ability of the nation to fight together.
{{CaptionedImage|file=Orcs of the West.jpg|title=No time for gratuitous violence|caption=A group of Jotun on their way to peace talks with the Empire.|align=right|width=525}}
Although the Jotun love war, they are a disciplined law-abiding people who have no time for gratuitous violence. War is seen as a worthy endeavour, a courageous and bold action that strengthens the Jotun people by giving them the chance to defeat their enemy. Internal feuding and confrontation by comparison is viewed as indulgent and greedy; those who start mindless fights or seek victory in fights or battles that do not enrich their clan are treated as criminals, or traitors if their action weakens their clan. Punishment is swift and severe.


This tribe tends to act in a fashion identified by their Imperial neighbours as "honourable." They almost never use poison or venom, for example, preferring to win their battles by strength of arms. They may use complex tactics, but rarely employ ambush or other guerilla tactics unless they are greatly outnumbered. They will usually accept a surrender unless they have reason to believe they are being tricked in some manner, and often allow injured opponents to retreat. They have also been known to allow opponents who have fought bravely to gather their dead or injured, or retreat from the battlefield - while ruthlessly crushing those who they believe have behaved in a treacherous manner.  However, they are known to greatly respect those who fight unarmoured or against impossible odds ... and express that respect by giving such opponents a glorious and honourable death in battle.
Of all the great Orc nations, the Jotun are without doubt the most pious. Most clans will decorate shields and armour with symbols of their favoured ancestor. In battle their ranks are accompanied by ghodi, fighting priests who invoke the blessings of the ancestors, bringing healing and great strength to those the ancestors deem worthy. Ghodi, even weak ones, are treated with great respect by the Jotun, but this pious attitude extends to others they deal with. The Jotun have scant regard for the tenets of the Imperial Way, regarding reincarnation as a naive myth but despite this they have been known to give special treatment to Imperial priests on occasion.


This is not to say that the Jotun are all warriors. Jotun who are not soldiers tend to be farmers rather than hunters. and it is believed by Imperial scholars that they have learnt many techniques of agriculture and animal-husbandry from their human slaves. Orcs who do not fight have lower status than even the least experienced warrior, however, so it is no surprised that the majority of Jotun prefer to practice the arts of war and leave farming to their human thralls or subjects.  
Jotun tend to act in a fashion identified by their Imperial neighbours as "honourable." They almost never use poison or venom, for example, preferring to win their battles by strength of arms. They may use complex tactics, but rarely employ ambush or other guerilla tactics unless they are greatly outnumbered. They will usually accept a surrender unless they have reason to believe they are being tricked in some manner, and often allow injured opponents to retreat. They have also been known to allow opponents who have fought bravely to gather their dead or injured, or retreat from the battlefield - while ruthlessly crushing those who they believe have behaved in a treacherous manner. However, they are known to greatly respect those who fight unarmoured or against impossible odds... and express that respect by giving such opponents a glorious and honourable death in battle.


Warriors of the Jotun see little honour in killing the weak or the unarmed, and prefer to take them as thralls. Human (and orc) thralls are treated reasonably well by the Jotun; as long as they show proper respect to their overlords, they are usually left to their own devices. Many modern Jotun thralls are the descendants of humans taken in battle, and consider the Empire their enemy as some tragic attempts to 'free' them have demonstrated.
Those they defeat in battle are given a simple choice - to join the Jotun and fight for them - or to become a '''thrall''' - the property of the jarl who captured them. Most thralls live as serfs, confined to land claimed by their jarl they labour to provide food for the jarl's clan. In return the jarl's clan provides the thrall and their family with protection and sufficient food to survive. In effect the thrall is a slave but with one vital distinction - they may cease to be a thrall and become Jotun at any time - simply by agreeing to take up arms and fight for the clan. Most thralls are condemned to a miserable life of hardship, but those few with valuable skills live a better life, serving the clan as traders, crafters or sailors on the Jotun vessels.


The Jotun are also competent builders, able to quickly and efficiently throw up stockades and pallisades around their camps and settlements, as well as possessing several strong stone fortresses especially along the shores of the Gullet. Some [[Highguard|Highborn]] scholars suggest that the orcs did not build these fortresses themselves, but rather occupied the structures of some earlier inhabitants (some go so far as to suggest these castles were built by the [[Paragons and Exemplars|Paragon]] of [[Vigilance]] known as [[The Sentinel]]). The Jotun are also known to have several clans who specialise in [[Crafting skills#Artifice|artifice]], specializing in making strong, durable weapons and armour. The northern and western mountains of Kallsea are believed to be rich in [[materials#orichalcum|orichalcum]] and [[materials#green iron|green iron]].
==5 things to know about the Jotun==
* '''Born to war''' - when the Jotun are not engaged in war, then they are preparing for one
* '''Fiercely honourable''' - the Jotun strive to follow a simple code of honour - and despise those who break their oaths
* '''Conquerors by nature''' - those they defeat must join the Jotun armies or serve the nation as thralls
* '''Revere their ancestors''' - the Jotun are the most devout of all the orc nations and treat their ancestors like gods
* '''Seek death in battle''' - the Jotun believe that their ancestors return to aid those who die in battle


===Warriors of the Jotun===
==What the Jotun are not==
Among the Jotun, certain warriors especially stand out. They include:
* '''They are neither barbaric nor cruel''' - The Jotun revel in war, but they do not slaughter for the sake of it and see no honour in killing the helpless.
* '''They are not slavers''' - Thralls have no real rights and may be treated as property by the Jotun, but they can cease to be a thrall at any time - simply by taking up arms and fighting for the Jotun.
* The '''Jarls''' are the leaders of the Jotun, and are always their strongest warriors. The Jarls seem to rule areas of land in Narkyst and Kallsea, dominating the orcs and humans that live in those areas and contending among themselves for prestige and honour. Jarls are effectively chiefs-of-chiefs, and often have several lesser Jarls (both Jotun and from subject tribes) who offer them fealty and tribute. A general is often a lesser Jarl, taking charge of battle-field tactics at the command of a more powerful Jarl who sets strategic goals for their army.
{{CaptionedImage|file=JotunMarch.jpg|align=left|width=500}}
* The '''Ulvenwar''' are among the most noticeable warriors on the battlefield, wearing the head and pelt of a large bear, wolf or dire beast they have slain with their bare hands. They are usually armed with [[Weapons & armour#Two-handed weapons|great weapons]], rarely wield shields, and their faces are often painted or tattooed with warlike symbols. They are often selected from a young age and extensively trained in groups, pitted against each other in multiple challenges, and only the one who defeats the others is deemed worthy of becoming ulvenwar. Many ulvenwar appear to be [[shamans]], or enjoy some special relationship with the Jotun ancestors.


* The '''Skjaldborg''' are surprisingly disciplined units of warriors who live together and are considered elite soldiers by most Jotun. They generally wield shield and [[Weapons & armour#One-handed spears|spear]], and the ties between them appear to be even more pronounced that the ties between normal members of a tribe. According to some stories, they believe that if one of them possesses the strength of will to cross the [[Imperial Orcs religious beliefs|Howling Abyss]], that warrior will return to carry their battle-siblings across when they die. They tend to be much more defensive than other Jotun, and occasionally use a variant of the [[#Jotun Challenge|challenge]] in which they call out a unit of enemy warriors. Skjaldborg ''never'' leave one of their number behind if there is any chance they can be rescued. Skjaldborg are often the warriors of a subject tribe, fighting in the style of their Jotun overlords.
==Warriors of the Jotun==
The bulk of most Jotun armies are bands of warriors drawn from the many minor nations ruled over by the Jotun. Although these are orcs who have opted to fight for the Jotun after they being conquered, their loyalty to their Jotun masters is strong. From the Imperial perspective there is little to distinguish these forces from the countless minor nations that are incorporated into the armies of the Thule, Druj or the Grendel. Most own little more than a sword and a breastplate usually worn over a plain tunic or similar. In battle they form up and fight in mobs along tribal divisions. What does make them distinct is the command and leadership of the Jotun commanders - there is none of the brutal savagery of the Druj, nor the caution of the Thule. Jotun commanders glory in war - a chance to prove yourself to the ancestors in battle - they revel in it. Those that follow their example - even non-Jotun - gain status, wealth, and power by impressing their Jotun masters with their ferocity and aggression.


* the '''Yegarra''' are usually lightly armed and armoured, and wield hunting weapons especially javelins and spears. They serve as runners, messengers and scouts and are usually encountered in small numbers. On the battlefield they engage in skirmishing tactics, but their real targets are the skirmishers, scouts and messengers of the enemy force. Some yegarra are humans who seek to gain the appoval and respect of the orcish warriors; they often serve as auxiliaries or supporters to the core Jotun force. Human yegarra often look quite primitive, with rags or scraps of fur and bone tied to their makeshift leather armour.
The elite troops in the Jotun's arsenal are the Kirkja, the pious warriors whose lives are pledged to emulate the triumphs of the greatest of the Jotun ancestors. These soldiers are well trained and zealous - eager to engage with the Empire to get the chance to prove themselves. There are three major groups of Kirkja - each devoted to a powerful Jotun ancestor - drawn from the temples spread across the Jotun lands. They are the best equipped Jotun on the battlefield and their ranks usually include several ghodi - mysterious priests who are able to invoke the power of the ancestors to heal wounds and repair shattered limbs.


====The Jotun Challenge====  
==Magic==
Most Imperial citizens have experience of the Jotun only in the context of fighting, and engagements often involve the ''Jotun Challenge''. The Jotun love one-on-one fights, but they have little respect for or appreciation of "champion battles" as such - they seem to believe that everyone on the battlefield should be prepared to act as a champion. An engagement with Jotun will often involve a group breaking up to engage their Imperial opponents one-on-one.
Like all other intelligent beings the Jotun employ magic, but they do not seem to consider it a particularly appropriate weapon for the battlefield. The majority of Jotun magicians appear to focus of [[Heal|healing]] and restoring the [[restore limb|limbs]], [[Mend|armaments]] or [[Purify|general health]] of the warriors. There are few battle-magicians among them, and even those tend to focus on swift casting the [[heal]] and [[purify]] incantations, or on [[empower|empowering]] warriors rather than the more aggressive spells.


The challenge begins with the orc pointing at an opponent with their weapon and then raising their head up to show their necks to their opponent. Making a slashing or ripping gesture with their hand as they bring their head down with a snarl.  This signal shows that they consider the person they are looking at as worthy of honourable combat. The same gesture is often used by warriors facing the Jotun, especially [[Steinr]] warriors.  
==History==
{{CaptionedImage|file=JotunPose.jpg|title=The Jotun are fiercely honourable|caption=A group of Jotun who know their own worth.|align=right|width=525}}
The target may return the challenge, and engage the Jotun in single combat that ends until one warrior cannot continue; withdraws indicating they consider the other combatant their superior; or surrenders to the other, offering them the chance to strike them down or take them as a thrall. It is important to note that the battle does not pause during a challenge, but efforts by warriors on either side to join in void the challenge and may cause loss of honour to the Jotun involved, or give the Imperials a reputation for treachery. The Jotun are most likely to offer a challenge to, or accept a challenge from, someone they have identified as Winterfolk or [[Dawn|Dawnish]].
The Jotun are geographically divided but culturally united. The northern Jotun control the area dubbed Kalsea by the Winterfolk. They tend to be a little more cautious and more traditional than their southern cousins, and have a great deal of experience fighting the forces of [[Wintermark]] - they have been raiding into [[Sermersuaq]] and north-western [[Kallavesa]] since before the arrival of the Steinr. There are known to be a number of human settlements scattered across Kalsea, whose inhabitants offer tribute and fealty to their orc masters. These humans often fight alongside the Jotun, and seem to have little love for the Empire; while they are clearly not the equal of their inhuman overlords, they seem to have a social position below that of a minor orc nation but above that of slaves or thralls. In 371 YE the [[Empress Britta]] dealt the northern Jotun a crushing defeat, driving them back into Kalsea and while they have made a few raids into Wintermark since then, they have not launched a significant attack against the Empire.


Imperial citizens often ignore the challenge, in which case the engagement proceeds in the more traditional way. A Jotun who does not wish to accept the challenge will usually indicate this with an exaggerated shake of the head. This is the most common response from a Jotun challenged by someone they have identified as a [[Navarr]] or [[Druj]].
The southern Jotun occupy the area the Winterfolk call Narkyst. In pre-Imperial times they occupied much of western [[Bregasland]] and accompanied their northern cousins in raiding Kallavesa. With the arrival of the [[The Marches|Marcher]] army from the east, they were eventually driven out of the marshes. Their numbers were swelled by the lesser nations driven westward from what is now the Marches; according to historians, they engaged in a brutal war of dominance with the lesser nations, conquering them and requiring them to offer fealty. Today the southern Jotun are much more aggressive than the northern; in 347YE they began a campaign of conquest against the [[Mournwold]], sweeping through [[Liathaven]] and driving out both the [[Navarr]] and the Marchers. <!--They still occupy these territories to this day and make regular raids into [[Kahraman]], [[Mitwold]], [[Bregasland]] and even as far east as [[Tassato]].-->


If the challenged warrior spits on the ground, they indicate that they do not consider the challenger to be a worthy opponent, or that they do not trust the target not to act in a dishonourable way. This is generally treated as an invitation to engage in a fight to the death, without any concern for rules of enagement. Jotun  treated in this fashion, will generally fight until either they or their opponent is dead. This is the most popular response from a Jotun challenged by an [[Imperial Orcs|Imperial Orc]], assuming they even acknowledge the challenge.
At various points in their history, the Jotun have entered into pacts with the humans of the Empire, most notably during the reign of [[Emperor Guntherm]]. These treaties reflect earlier conventions between the Jotun and the [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]] in the years prior to the formation of the Empire. Such pacts and treaties take the form of ceasefires, and rarely last more than two years although in some cases they have been renewed. Some [[Wintermark political leadership|thanes]] living on the borders, and even a few [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Steward|stewards]] have engaged in smaller-scale pacts with individual clans of Jotun in a similar way.


===Magic===
{{Jotun Links}}
Like all over intelligent beings the Jotun employ magic, but they do not seem to consider it a particularly appropriate weapon for the battlefield. The majority of Jotun magicians appear to focus of [[Spell list#Heal|healing]] and restoring the [[Spell list#Repair limb|limbs]], [[Spell list#Mend|armaments]] or [[Spell list#Purify|general health]] of the warriors. There are few battle-magicians among them, and even those tend to focus on the [[Spell list#Swift Heal|swift heal]] incantation rather than the more aggressive spells. Jotun magicians rarely wear [[Magician#Mage_Armour|mage armour]] or wield [[Magicician#Staff|staves]].
 
===The Imperial Orcs===
The Jotun despise the Imperial Orcs. They never challenge them, and will not accept a challenge from one of them. They do not offer them quarter, nor expect it from them. Attempts by Imperial Orcs to change this attitude have been tragically unsuccessful.
 
===History===
The Jotun tribe is geographically divided but culturally united. The northern Jotun control the area dubbed Kalsea by the Winterfolk. They tend to be a little more cautious and more traditional than their southern cousins, and have a great deal of experience fighting the forces of [[Wintermark]] - they have been raiding into [[Sermersuaq]] and north-western [[Kallavesa]] since before the arrival of the Steinr. There are known to be a number of human settlements scattered across Kallsea, whose inhabitants offer tribute and fealty to their orc masters. These humans often fight alongside the Jotun, and seem to have little love for the Empire; while they are clearly not the equal of their inhuman overlords, they seem to have a social position below that of a minor orc tribe but above that of slaves or thralls. In 371 YE the [[Empress Britta]] dealt the northern Jotun a crushing defeat, driving them back into Kallsea and while they have made a few raids into Wintermark since then, they have not launched a significant attack against the Empire.
 
The southern Jotun occupy the area the Winterfolk call Narksyt. In pre-Imperial times they occupied much of western [[Bregasland]] and accompanied their northern cousins in raiding Kallavesa. With the arrival of the [[The Marches|Marcher]] army from the east, they were eventually driven out of the marshes. Their numbers were swelled by the lesser tribes driven westward from what is now the Marches; according to historians, they engaged in a brutal war of dominance with the lesser tribes, conquering them and requiring them to offer fealty. Today the southern Jotun are much more aggressive than the northern branch of the tribe; in 347YE they began a campaign of conquest against the [[Mournwold]], sweeping through [[Liathaven]] and driving out both the [[Navarr]] and the Marchers. They still occupy these territories to this day and make regular raids into [[Kahraman]], [[Mitwold]], [[Bregasland]] and even as far east as [[Tassato]].
 
At various points in their history, the Jotun have entered into pacts with the humans of the Empire, most notably during the reign of [[Emperor Guntherm]]. These treaties reflect earlier conventions between the Jtoun and the [[Wintermark|Winterfolk]] in the years prior to the formation of the Empire. Such pacts and treaties take the form of ceasefires, and rarely last more than two years although in some cases they have been renewed. Some [[Wintermark political leadership|thanes]] living on the borders, and even a few [[The Marches|Marcher]] [[Steward|stewards]] have engaged in smaller-scale pacts with individual clans of Jotun in a similar way.
 
===Look and Feel===
The Jotun value courage, strength and martial prowess above other attributes. They do not throw their lives away, nor use their subject tribes as disposable troops, but they are invariably looking for a way to increase their honour, with an eye towards becoming ancestors when they die. The only true dishonour, most Jotun recognise is showing fear in the face of the enemy, or striking a worthy opponent down by treacherous means.
 
Jotun favour axes and hammers over other weapons, whether two-handed or coupled with a round shield. They tend to shy away from bows, and seem to have no appreciation for the crossbow as a weapon of war - when it comes to ranged combat they prefer thrown axes or javelins. Their love of battle and emphasis on personal glory and honour, as well as their war-like traditions. means that many Jotun warriors are a match one-on-one for their Imperial counterparts, striking [[Combat#CLEAVE|savage blows]], [[combat#SHATTER|breaking shields asunder]] or fighting on with [[Heroic skills#Second Wind|incredible vitality]].
 
The colour red appears to have totemic significance for the Jotun, and figures on most of their banners. They consider powerful creatures such as [[mundane beasts#dire beasts|dire lions, dire bears and dire boars]] and mandowla to be potent symbols of strength and might. and many Jotun standards are topped with skulls of such animals.
 
==Playing the Jotun==
TBC
 
[[Category:Barbarians]]
[[Category:The World]]
[[Category:Bestiary]]

Latest revision as of 21:37, 4 September 2024

Overview

The Jotun are orcs who dominate the lands to the west and north-west of the Empire. Historically they have been especial threats to Wintermark, the Marches and the Navarr territory of Liathaven. They are barbaric by Imperial standards, but they are neither savage nor primitive. They enshrine the warrior-ideal, and seem to fight the Empire as much for the joy of battle as for any desire for territory or hate for the humans.

Jotun banners often show the skulls of powerful creatures.

The Nation

Much of what the Empire knows about the Jotun has come from interviews with slaves, both orc slaves and human slaves taken by the Jotun who later escaped. They are a warlike people that values strength-in-arms and fighting-spirit as their highest virtues; to become more like their ancestors, they seek out challenges against which to test their might and their nerve. While they may view climbing a mountain, wrestling a mandowla or swimming across the Gullet to be renown-worthy acts, they seek true glory and renown in war.

The Jotun are literally defined by war, only those who are prepared to take up arms to fight against the enemies of the nation are considered to be people, everyone else is either an enemy or a thrall. War is seen as the greatest endeavour, the only proving ground where the nation can truly demonstrate their worth, for the Jotun believe that only those who die in battle are able to cross the Howling Abyss. In battle they are joined with their ancestors, whose words carry them to greatness and who wait ready to take the farthest shore if they fall. A battle is about the nation against their enemies - it is never about the individual. Small groups of warriors may pick fights with individuals, but they regard that as a fight - not a battle. A battle is the moment when the Jotun come together as a people to overcome their enemies. Victory is predicated not on individual heroics but rather on the ability of the nation to fight together.

No time for gratuitous violence
A group of Jotun on their way to peace talks with the Empire.

Although the Jotun love war, they are a disciplined law-abiding people who have no time for gratuitous violence. War is seen as a worthy endeavour, a courageous and bold action that strengthens the Jotun people by giving them the chance to defeat their enemy. Internal feuding and confrontation by comparison is viewed as indulgent and greedy; those who start mindless fights or seek victory in fights or battles that do not enrich their clan are treated as criminals, or traitors if their action weakens their clan. Punishment is swift and severe.

Of all the great Orc nations, the Jotun are without doubt the most pious. Most clans will decorate shields and armour with symbols of their favoured ancestor. In battle their ranks are accompanied by ghodi, fighting priests who invoke the blessings of the ancestors, bringing healing and great strength to those the ancestors deem worthy. Ghodi, even weak ones, are treated with great respect by the Jotun, but this pious attitude extends to others they deal with. The Jotun have scant regard for the tenets of the Imperial Way, regarding reincarnation as a naive myth but despite this they have been known to give special treatment to Imperial priests on occasion.

Jotun tend to act in a fashion identified by their Imperial neighbours as "honourable." They almost never use poison or venom, for example, preferring to win their battles by strength of arms. They may use complex tactics, but rarely employ ambush or other guerilla tactics unless they are greatly outnumbered. They will usually accept a surrender unless they have reason to believe they are being tricked in some manner, and often allow injured opponents to retreat. They have also been known to allow opponents who have fought bravely to gather their dead or injured, or retreat from the battlefield - while ruthlessly crushing those who they believe have behaved in a treacherous manner. However, they are known to greatly respect those who fight unarmoured or against impossible odds... and express that respect by giving such opponents a glorious and honourable death in battle.

Those they defeat in battle are given a simple choice - to join the Jotun and fight for them - or to become a thrall - the property of the jarl who captured them. Most thralls live as serfs, confined to land claimed by their jarl they labour to provide food for the jarl's clan. In return the jarl's clan provides the thrall and their family with protection and sufficient food to survive. In effect the thrall is a slave but with one vital distinction - they may cease to be a thrall and become Jotun at any time - simply by agreeing to take up arms and fight for the clan. Most thralls are condemned to a miserable life of hardship, but those few with valuable skills live a better life, serving the clan as traders, crafters or sailors on the Jotun vessels.

5 things to know about the Jotun

  • Born to war - when the Jotun are not engaged in war, then they are preparing for one
  • Fiercely honourable - the Jotun strive to follow a simple code of honour - and despise those who break their oaths
  • Conquerors by nature - those they defeat must join the Jotun armies or serve the nation as thralls
  • Revere their ancestors - the Jotun are the most devout of all the orc nations and treat their ancestors like gods
  • Seek death in battle - the Jotun believe that their ancestors return to aid those who die in battle

What the Jotun are not

  • They are neither barbaric nor cruel - The Jotun revel in war, but they do not slaughter for the sake of it and see no honour in killing the helpless.
  • They are not slavers - Thralls have no real rights and may be treated as property by the Jotun, but they can cease to be a thrall at any time - simply by taking up arms and fighting for the Jotun.
JotunMarch.jpg

Warriors of the Jotun

The bulk of most Jotun armies are bands of warriors drawn from the many minor nations ruled over by the Jotun. Although these are orcs who have opted to fight for the Jotun after they being conquered, their loyalty to their Jotun masters is strong. From the Imperial perspective there is little to distinguish these forces from the countless minor nations that are incorporated into the armies of the Thule, Druj or the Grendel. Most own little more than a sword and a breastplate usually worn over a plain tunic or similar. In battle they form up and fight in mobs along tribal divisions. What does make them distinct is the command and leadership of the Jotun commanders - there is none of the brutal savagery of the Druj, nor the caution of the Thule. Jotun commanders glory in war - a chance to prove yourself to the ancestors in battle - they revel in it. Those that follow their example - even non-Jotun - gain status, wealth, and power by impressing their Jotun masters with their ferocity and aggression.

The elite troops in the Jotun's arsenal are the Kirkja, the pious warriors whose lives are pledged to emulate the triumphs of the greatest of the Jotun ancestors. These soldiers are well trained and zealous - eager to engage with the Empire to get the chance to prove themselves. There are three major groups of Kirkja - each devoted to a powerful Jotun ancestor - drawn from the temples spread across the Jotun lands. They are the best equipped Jotun on the battlefield and their ranks usually include several ghodi - mysterious priests who are able to invoke the power of the ancestors to heal wounds and repair shattered limbs.

Magic

Like all other intelligent beings the Jotun employ magic, but they do not seem to consider it a particularly appropriate weapon for the battlefield. The majority of Jotun magicians appear to focus of healing and restoring the limbs, armaments or general health of the warriors. There are few battle-magicians among them, and even those tend to focus on swift casting the heal and purify incantations, or on empowering warriors rather than the more aggressive spells.

History

The Jotun are fiercely honourable
A group of Jotun who know their own worth.

The Jotun are geographically divided but culturally united. The northern Jotun control the area dubbed Kalsea by the Winterfolk. They tend to be a little more cautious and more traditional than their southern cousins, and have a great deal of experience fighting the forces of Wintermark - they have been raiding into Sermersuaq and north-western Kallavesa since before the arrival of the Steinr. There are known to be a number of human settlements scattered across Kalsea, whose inhabitants offer tribute and fealty to their orc masters. These humans often fight alongside the Jotun, and seem to have little love for the Empire; while they are clearly not the equal of their inhuman overlords, they seem to have a social position below that of a minor orc nation but above that of slaves or thralls. In 371 YE the Empress Britta dealt the northern Jotun a crushing defeat, driving them back into Kalsea and while they have made a few raids into Wintermark since then, they have not launched a significant attack against the Empire.

The southern Jotun occupy the area the Winterfolk call Narkyst. In pre-Imperial times they occupied much of western Bregasland and accompanied their northern cousins in raiding Kallavesa. With the arrival of the Marcher army from the east, they were eventually driven out of the marshes. Their numbers were swelled by the lesser nations driven westward from what is now the Marches; according to historians, they engaged in a brutal war of dominance with the lesser nations, conquering them and requiring them to offer fealty. Today the southern Jotun are much more aggressive than the northern; in 347YE they began a campaign of conquest against the Mournwold, sweeping through Liathaven and driving out both the Navarr and the Marchers.

At various points in their history, the Jotun have entered into pacts with the humans of the Empire, most notably during the reign of Emperor Guntherm. These treaties reflect earlier conventions between the Jotun and the Winterfolk in the years prior to the formation of the Empire. Such pacts and treaties take the form of ceasefires, and rarely last more than two years although in some cases they have been renewed. Some thanes living on the borders, and even a few Marcher stewards have engaged in smaller-scale pacts with individual clans of Jotun in a similar way.

Further Reading

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